Band connector

ABSTRACT

A band connector which is adapted to fix a folded band is disclosed, and includes a buckle and a cord. The buckle has a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion, and a junction, wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are connected to two bands respectively. The cord is provided on the junction for fixing the folded band. In addition, the band connector is applied to any band, such as a leather belt, a strap of a backpack, and a waist belt. After the length of the band is adjusted, the redundant segment of the band can be folded and bundled by the cord.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to a device which connects bands, and more particularly to a band connector with a function of fixing a folded band.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventionally, two long bands (e.g., leather belts, waist belts, or backpack straps) or two ends of a band are connected by a buckle. However, a redundant segment would sometimes be produced at the junction between two bands or two ends of a band. Accordingly, how to neatly accommodate the redundant segment produced from the band is one of the issues currently.

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional backpack 1 includes a strap consisting of a shoulder strap 2, an adjusting strap 3, and a buckle 4. The buckle 4 is connected to the shoulder strap 2 with an end thereof, and the adjusting strap 3 stretches out another end thereof. Therefore, the shoulder strap 2, the adjusting strap 3, and the buckle 4 are connected to form the strap which is a loop for a user to bear on the shoulder. Additionally, a part of the adjusting strap 3 which stretches out the buckle 4 forms a redundant segment 5 (or an adjusting segment), wherein the redundant segment 5 is produced after a user adjusts the length of the strap for comfortably bearing the backpack 1. The length of the redundant segment 5 differs from person to person according to, for example, the figure or the bearing habit of each user.

The redundant segment 5 may swing during the user is moving and thus hit someone else or the user itself, or even be hooked by or wrap around objects. For example, during a user is riding a motorcycle, the redundant segment 5 of the backpack 1 may swing by the wind and thus hit passing riders, or wrap around a driving mirror of another vehicle. Moreover, the redundant segment 5 may be winded or clamped by machinery, e.g., closing bus doors, which is dangerous. In addition, for the overall appearance, the redundant segment 5 may make the backpack 1 unsightly and untidy.

Therefore, how to effectively arrange and accommodate the band connected to the buckle is one of the problems to be solved for the inventor of the present application.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, the primary objective of the present disclosure is to provide a band connector which is adapted to neatly accommodate a band.

The present disclosure provides a band connector which is adapted to fix a folded band, including a buckle and a cord. The buckle has a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion, and a junction, wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are connected to two bands respectively. The cord is provided on the junction for fixing the folded band.

Whereby, the folded band can be fixed on the buckle by the cord which is provided on the junction. Therefore, the band connector can effectively neatly accommodate the band.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the conventional backpack recited in the description of related art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment, showing the band connector connected to a band;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment, showing the band which is folded on the buckle;

FIG. 5 is a lateral view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the buckle of a second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the buckle of a third embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the buckle of a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the buckle of a fifth embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the buckle of a sixth embodiment; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a seventh embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the band connector 100 with a function of fixing a folded band, the first embodiment of the present disclosure, includes a buckle 10 and a cord 20.

The buckle 10 has a first connecting portion 12, a second connecting portion 14, and a junction 16. The first connecting portion 12 and the second connecting portion 14 are respectively connected to two bands 6 and 7. The band 6 can be connected to, without limitation, the shoulder strap 2 of the backpack 1, while the band 7 can be connected but not limited to, the adjusting strap 3 of the backpack 1.

In the first embodiment, the first connecting portion 12 has a hook portion 122 extending from a side of the buckle 10, a passing space 124 surrounded by the hook portion 122, and a groove 126 recessed into the side of the buckle 10, wherein the groove 126 communicates the passing space 124. The band 6 passes through the passing space 124 from the groove 126, and is thus hooked by the hook portion 122. The second connecting portion 14 has two parallel long holes 142 spaced apart, and a horizontal bar 144 between the two long holes 142. The band 7 passes through the two long holes 142, winds around the horizontal bar 144, and is thus movably provided on the second connecting portion 14. A user can adjust the length of the band 7 which stretches out the long holes 142 according to the demand for use, and the band 7 stretching out forms a redundant segment 8. The junction 16 is provided between the first connecting portion 12 and the second connecting portion 14, and has at least a notch. For example, the junction 16 has two notches 162 which are respectively recessed into two sides of the buckle 10 for fixing the cord 20.

Additionally, the buckle 10 further has a perforation 18 provided between the first connecting portion 12 and the second connecting portion 14 for being passed through by, without limitation, a cord, a hanging ring, another buckle, or a key ring. In the first embodiment, the perforation 18 is hexagonal such that the buckle 10 can be used as a mini hand tool, for example, to rotate a bolt or a nut.

The cord 20 is provided on the junction 16 to fix the folded band, precisely, to the redundant segment 8 of the folded band 7. In the first embodiment, the cord 20 is an elastic nylon ring which is put around the buckle 10 and fit within the two notches 162 on two sides of the buckle 10 for positioning. In addition, the cord 20 is detachably fit within the two notches. For example, the cord 20 can be elastically deformed by pulling to be disconnected from the buckle 10.

As shown in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, one of using methods for the band connector 100 are illustrated. For example, a user can fold the redundant segment 8 of the band 7 twice along its longitudinal direction, put the folded redundant segment 8 on the surface of the buckle 10 and within a space between the cord 20 and the buckle 10, which is formed after the cord 20 is fastened to the buckle 10. Accordingly, the cord 20 can effectively fix the folded redundant segment 8 of the band 7 to the buckle 10, which avoids the redundant segment 8 from arbitrarily hanging or swaying. In this way, the redundant segment 8 (also called it a free segment) of the band 7 which stretches out the buckle 10 can be effectively arranged and fixed.

However, the way to arrange the band 7 and the redundant segment 8 is not limited to folding as aforementioned, but includes rolling in one direction or reciprocating overlapping, which put the redundant segment 8 together on the surface of the buckle 10.

In the first embodiment, the buckle 10 is an integrally formed structure which is made of metal by punching, and has a better structural strength. However, practically, the material or the forming method of the buckle is not limited to that in the first embodiment. For example, the buckle 10 can be made of plastic or carbon fiber, and be formed by 3D printing. Moreover, the cord 20 can be an elastic rope that is made of rubber, latex, or other elastic materials, which has better usability and operability. However, the material of the cord 20 is not limited to the materials mentioned above, but can be other materials such as flexible plastic or fiber, or other metals.

In addition, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are not limited to the structures mentioned above. Structures which a band can be movably or immovably connected to fall within the scope of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion of the present disclosure. For example, the first connecting portion 12 in other embodiments may not have the hook portion 122 and the groove 126, and only have a passing space 124 for the band 6 to pass through and be fixed. Additionally, the two notches 162 at two opposite positions provide a better positioning effect to the cord 20 at two sides of the cord 20, which prevents the cord 20 from falling off. However, in other embodiments, the number of the notch 162 is not limited to two, but can be only one at a side of the buckle 10 as long as the notch 162 is enough to effectively support the cord 20.

As shown in FIG. 6, the band connector 200, the second embodiment, includes basically the same structures of the band connector 100 except for the type of the junction. The junction 16 in the first embodiment are notches 162, while the junction in the second embodiment are perforations 210 to fix the cord around the folded band. Additionally, in other embodiments, the number of the perforation is not limited to two or more than two, but can be only one for the cord to pass through.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the band connector 300, the third embodiment, includes basically the same structures of the band connector 100 except for the position of the junction. The junction is provided on at least one of the two ends of the horizontal bar. For example, the two notches 310 of the junction shown in FIG. 7 are respectively provided on two ends of the horizontal bar 320 between the long holes. Additionally, in other embodiments, the number of the notch 310 is not limited to two, but can be only one that is provided on one of the two ends of the horizontal bar 320.

As shown in FIG. 8, the band connector 400, the fourth embodiment, includes basically the same structures of the band connector 100 except for the position of the junction. The two notches 410 of the junction are recessed into a side of the buckle, and the second connecting portion 430 is provided between the first connecting portion 420 and the junction (the two notches 410). Practically, the two notches 410 are recessed into the bottom side of the buckle. With such design, the junction can be formed without widening the buckle, which effectively reduces the overall volume of the buckle and increases miniaturization.

As depicted in FIG. 9, the band connector 500, the fifth embodiment, includes basically the same structures of the band connector 400. The difference is that the first connecting portion of the band connector 500 has two protrusions 512 and 514 which face each other and are protruded from a side of the buckle. The shapes of the two protrusions 512 and 514 are designed but not limited to be complementary, wherein a space 516 is formed on the same side of the protrusions 512 and 514, and a gap 518 communicating the space 516 is formed between the two protrusions 512 and 514. With such design, a band can pass through the gap 518 and then fit around the two protrusions 512 and 514. Moreover, the structure of the first connecting portion of the band connector 500 can be applied to the band connectors of the aforementioned embodiments or the embodiments described later.

As shown in FIG. 10, the band connector 600, the sixth embodiment, includes basically the same structures of the band connector 500 except for the structure of the first connecting portion. The first connecting portion of the band connector 600 mainly consists of a long hole 610, and a band can pass through the long holes 610 and then fit on the buckle. In addition, the structure of the first connecting portion of the band connector 600 can also be applied to the band connectors of the aforementioned embodiments.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the band connector 700, the seventh embodiment, includes basically the same structures of the band connectors mentioned above. The difference is that the junction of the buckle has a connecting hole 710, and the cord 720 is a strip. The cord 720 is connected to the connecting hole 710 with an end thereof, and a fastener 730 is provided on another end of the cord 720. The cord 720 can be made of materials that are able to be attached by the fastener, and an attachment portion (not shown) can be provided on the buckle for the attachment of the fastener. Whereby, after the band is folded on the buckle, the cord 720 is adapted to wind around the folded band, and the fastener 730 at the another end of the cord 720 can adhere to the cord 720 itself or the buckle for fixing the folded band. Additionally, in other embodiments, a pair of buttons can be substituted for the fastener for fixing the folded band. In other words, one of the buttons is provided on the cord 720, and another corresponding button is also provided on the cord 720 or the buckle.

In addition, the cord in any of the aforementioned embodiments is not limited to a ring, but can be one or more than one ropes. For example, the folded band can be bundled by two ropes in knots, and then be tied to the buckle by the ropes for fixing the folded band.

Moreover, the junction in any of the aforementioned embodiments is not limited to perforations or notches. In other embodiments, the junction can be a pillar around which the cord can wind and fix.

It must be pointed out that the embodiments described above are only some preferred embodiments of the present disclosure. The junction can be positioned at upper half of the buckle so that the first connecting portion is located between the junction and the second connecting portion. Moreover, the band adapted to be connected to the band connector is not limited to a strap of a backpack. For example, the band connector of the present disclosure can be applied to a waist belt, a leather belt, a strap of a lifting device, and a safety belt for arranging bands. All equivalent structures which employ the concepts disclosed in this specification and the appended claims should fall within the scope of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A band connector which is adapted to fix a folded band, comprising: a buckle having a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion, and a junction, wherein the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are connected to two bands respectively; and a cord provided on the junction for fixing the folded band.
 2. The band connector of claim 1, wherein the junction has at least a perforation; the cord is provided in the perforation.
 3. The band connector of claim 1, wherein the junction has at least a notch; the cord is provided in the notch.
 4. The band connector of claim 1, wherein the junction is provided between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion.
 5. The band connector of claim 1, wherein the second connecting portion is provided between the first connecting portion and the junction.
 6. The band connector of claim 5, wherein the junction has two notches which are recessed into two sides of the buckle.
 7. The band connector of claim 1, wherein the cord is a ringed rope.
 8. The band connector of claim 1, wherein the cord is connected to the junction with an end thereof; the cord winds around the folded band, and another end of the cord is fixed to the buckle or the cord itself.
 9. The band connector of claim 1, wherein the second connecting portion has two parallel long holes and a horizontal bar between the two long holes; the junction is provided on at least one of two ends of the horizontal bar.
 10. The band connector of claim 1, wherein the buckle has a hexagonal perforation provided between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. 